A char (Salvelinus fontinalis), not a true trout — native to eastern North America, in Canada from the Hudson Bay basin east through the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence system and the Maritime provinces. Widely stocked far beyond that range, across western Canada and around the world, in cold lakes and small creeks. Prized for vibrant markings and a willingness to strike; where introduced, it is often managed for heavy harvest to protect native fish.